A blog of the Greater Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA
The name of this blog is taken from the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations (1945):
"We the Peoples of the United Nations, Determined...
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small...."

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Sonya Martinez

A trauma survivor and overcomer herself, Sonya Martinez has an art for empowering people by developing personal and professional strategies that help advance them in their destiny. She served as an Associate Pastor in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it provided her the opportunity to lead various women’s conferences and mission trips into Mexico, South and Central America. It was these experiences that strengthened her passion for fighting for the rights of those who suffer injustices. In 2008, Sonya helped found a local organization in Corpus Christi dedicated to eradicating modern day slavery in South Texas through preventative efforts. Sonya’s experience and passion as the founder of Blue Nation led her to pioneer the first ever shelter for victims of human trafficking in Lesotho. BDS was established in 2011, with Sonya as Africa Director. In 2012, Sonya and team opened the Hand of Hope Transformation Center in Lesotho, Africa, for survivors of human trafficking.

"BDS," the Beautiful Dream Society, is an active participant in Oklahoma’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task force. Sonya and her team took the lead in establishing the first state certified shelter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”